506 
A VOYAGE TO 
1778 . 
October. 
»- , -' 
Thurfday 22. 
Friday 23. 
In the morning of the 22d, we made an attempt to get to 
fea, with the wind at South Eaft, which mifcarried. The 
following afternoon, we were vifited by one Jacob Ivano- 
vitch Sopofnicoff, a Ruffian, who commanded a boat, or 
fmall veffel, at Oomanak. This man had a great ffiare of 
modefty; and would drink no ftrong liquor, of which the 
reft of his countrymen, whom we had met with here, were 
immoderately fond. He feemed to know more accurately 
what fupplies could be got at the harbour of Petropaulow- 
fka, and the price of the different articles, than Mr. Ifmy- 
loff. But, by all accounts, every thing we ffiould want at 
that place was very fcarce, and bore a high price. Flour, 
for inftance, was from three to five roubles the pood *; and 
deer, from three to five roubles each. This man told us 
that he was to be at Petropaulowfka in May next; and, as I 
underftood, was to have the charge of my letter. He feem¬ 
ed to be exceedingly defirous of having fome token from 
me to carry to Major Behm; and, to gratify him, I fent a 
fmall fpying-glafs. 
After we became acquainted with thefe Ruffians, fome of 
our gentlemen, at different times, vifited their Settlement on 
the ill and ; where they always met with a hearty welcome. 
This fettlement con lifted of a dwelling-houfe, and two ftore- 
houfes. And, befides the Ruffians, there was a number of 
the Kamtfchadales, and of the natives, as fervants, or Haves, 
to the former. Some others of the natives, who feemed in¬ 
dependent of the Ruffians, lived at the fame place. Such of 
them as belonged to the Ruffians were all males ; and they 
are taken, or, perhaps, purchafed from their parents when 
young. There was, at this time, about twenty of thefe, 
who could be looked upon in no other light than as children. 
* 36 lb. 
They 
